St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1887-05-07
SANTA ANNA'S coURTSHIP.

only by far the richest and most power
ful man in Mexico, but he held the ma
ton in his iron grasp and controlled il
is easily us a rider manages his Steed
writes CORRESPONDENT of the Philadel-
phia Record. During his extraordinary
career he was engaged in no less than
eight pr0nunciamient0S-ti OF them
made by himself and the rest created
by allies for his benefit Twice he was
chosen president by the anti Catholic
party, and three times was he elevated
to the same position by the bitterly
opposing ecclesiastical faction. Twice
he suffered Punishment, and each time
was recalled and placed at the head of
affairs by a nation which could not do
without him. Several times when Il
prisoner his captors held consultations
upon the ACCESSIBILITY of putting him to
death. He was, in turn, the candidate
Of all parties-feared, honored and
hated by all. In turn he served each
faction faithfully-but most faithfully
at al times served himself. Actively
employed through life as politican
and soldier, he found time to read just
the whole complex system of Mexican
laws, and in a series of volumes of au
tocratic DEGREES he drew from that
chaotic mass a system of Jurisprudence
that will stand as Il monument to his
genius.
Naturally the lovemaking of such
man was not conducted according to
conventional rules. His wooing re-
minds one of LoniS NapolpOnS's vele-
ment overtures to the beautiful CoUn-
tess Engenie when she assured him
that he could reach her only "hy way
of the church." For some time after
the death Of his first wife the great
dictator remained Indifferent to the
fair sex, and repeatedly declared that
his heart was buried with his early
love. But, like many other diSconso-
late wid0Wcrs, he discovered at length
that the organ where sentiment is sup
posed To be located resembles that
plant Of the Mexican hills called
.Semprc rira Getaways alive'D, which,
though as gray and dry as IA sponge
when unmoistened, quickly becomes
green aud beautiful again under proper
Indeed, if stories he true,
Santa Anna seems to have had rs many
legs as centipehp, and as many hearts
rs legs. | have been shown Il score of
battle fields. scattered all over Mexico, |
where it is alleged that "Santa Anna |
lost lcs"-hnt whether one of the ori- |
ginal members or a wooden one history |
does not specify, and accounts Of his !
illicit Gfuircs lie crul are equally nu- |
nerou$.
One day. while riding in his carriage
down the Gale de San Francisco-the |
main street of the Mexican capitalize |
observed a beautiful child, barefonted |
md shabbily dressed, sitting on the .
ground near the door Of poor shop. !
playing with a kitten. The little girl /
who was then but II years ODD quite
unconscious of the attention she was
attracting, displayed the grace of a
avn and the limbs of an incipient We
nus in the frolic with her pet. and when
'he CHANGED to look up and encountered
or she hlushed and smiled, showing
he most beautiful pearly teeth, But
his was no Maud Mnlles'S romance for,
hOush the great man erode away" he
ent IA messenger next day in the per
on Of Il middle-aced captain of the
palace guards. When this highly bpdiz-
ned, helaced, and hefogged functions
Iry entered the poor little shop the wi
low Tosta-good soul-beIieved he had
ome to purchase some of her incom-
parable cigdrellOis, and FASTENED TO
,lace the best she had before him; hut
What was her surprise and consterna-
ion when he waved them away with
naughty gesture and announced thar
he came as the bearer Of a message
rom Su Alteza." the president of the
epuhlic. Well, the messaee-in refer
nee to the widows one eve lamb. ac-
by liberal offer of money
o aroused the worthy woman's ire that
'efore it the captain retired on the
onble quick, muttering to himself:
Served me right; it was cowardly for
soldier to undertake such "A mission" !
Not many days later u palace fop,
Tho had never smelled gunpowder, :
allied on Sonora Tosta and said with :
ut circumlocution Don't be fool, y,
~ good woman. His hishness desires t.
GU to send your daughter to the palace !
.ccede to his wishes and you NAV shut !!
p this miserable little shop and live in !
Dlendor the rest of Your days" Chnk- ;
~ with wrath, the mother could find +
o words for reply, but selling ja,7ito ,
red beans which were stewing IN q !
RATIOS she hurled them red-hot at the i.
cad of the messenger. As he beat an !
Iglorious retreat, his yellow satin vest I
with what should have been g
leir dinner, little Dolores laughed 1
errily at his discontinue, believing u
her simplicity that Su Alteza, want :
her for kitchen maid to wash !,
shes at the palace.
Sonora Tosta hoped that now she {
id routed the enemy, and Lola (the l,
lids pet name) appeared to have for u
,tten the report that the president u
de past the shop several times every 9
~ and never failed to look ia. 4 u
rtnight passed away, when one morn "
g the great dictator himself walked d
to the humble room. Lola, now u
oroughly frightened. ran into back II
om and hid herself under the bed. u
rave as a lioness in defense Of her o
,ung, Sonora Tosta did not return the )
sanitation of the President. c
1t with flashing ewes and arms akimbo
gan lecturins him in this wise:
You You, who ought to he the father
the people, to try to rob widowed
other of her daughter.n ii
" Listen to me, my good woman,' 1
andy commenced President Santa a
ma.